THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


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F   CHIFi 


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E    UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA 


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LIBRARY   OF   THE    UNIVERSITY 
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E    UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA          LIBRARY   OF   THE   UNIVERSITY 
rfT>    xg^^SSS.         =         ^^T^>.    G^ 


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THE 

Dreadful  Vifitation 

in 
A  fliort  Account  of  the 

Progrefs  and  Effeds 

of  the 

PLAGUE, 

The  laft  Time  it  fpread  in  the  City  off 
LONDON  in  the  Year  1665  extra£led  from 
the  Memoirs  of  a  Perfon  who  refided  there* 
during  the  whole  Time  of  that  Infection: 

With  fome  Thoughts  on  the  Advantage' which 

would  refult  to  Chriftianity,  if  a  Spirit  of  Impartiality 
and  true  Charity  was  fuffered  to  prefide  amongft  the 
Several  religious  Denominations,  &c. 


Deut.  Chap.  32,  29.  O  that  they  were  wife,  that 
they  underjlood  this,  that  they  would  conjider  their  latter 
End. 


Germantown  ;  Printed  by  Chrt  Sower,  1763. 


AMongft  the  many  Calamities  with  which  the  Al- 
mighty is  pleafed  to  vifit  the  Children  ofMen,  irv 
order  to  reduce  them  to  ajuft  Senfeoftheirown  Weak- 
nefs  and  entire  Dependence  upon  him,  there  is  fcarce 
any  that  are  more  productive  of  true  penitent  Humilia- 
tion arid  of  a  Sight  of  what  is  really  good  and  truly 
Evil,  than  thofe  contagious  Diftempers  which,  an  offen- 
ded God  fometimes,  fuffers  to  rage  amongft  the  People. 
In  the  Year  1665  the  City  of  LONDON  was  forely  vifi- 
ted  by  the  Plague  :  An  Account  of  the  Progrefs  and 
Effects  of  that  Vifitation  was  kept  by  a  Citizen  who  re- 
mained there  during  the  whole  Time  of  the  Sicknefsj 
.and  appears  to  have  been  candid  and  judicious  in  his 
Remarks  thereon.  I  truft  my  Readers  may,  in  a  fhort 
Defcription  of  that  memorable  Judgment,  meet  with 
fucji  Leffons  of  beft  Wifdom,  which  nothing  can  fo  ef- 
fectually produce,  as  a  clofe  and  ferious  converfe  with 
Death  and  the  Grave.     The  Introduction  of  this  Con- 
tagion in  LONDON  was  by  fome  Goods  imported  from 
HOLLAND,  which  had  been  brought  thither  from  the  Le- 
vant. It  firft  broke  out  in  the  Houfe  where  thofe  Goods 
were  opened,  from  whence  it  fpread  to  other  Houfes. 
In  the  firft  Houfe  that  was  infected  there  died  four  Per- 
fons  :  A  Neighbour  who  went  to  vifit  them  returning 
home  gave  the  Diftemper  to  her  Family,  and  died  with 
all  her  Houfhold.  The  Parifh  Officers  who  were  em- 
ploy'd  about  the  fick  Perfons  being  alfoi nfected,the  Phy- 
iicians  perceived  the  Danger,  and  upon  narrow  Infpedtion 
afliired,  that  it  was  indeed  the  Plague  with  all  is  terrify- 
ing Particulars,  &  that  it  threutned  a  general  Infection. 
The  People  began  now  to  be  allarmed  all  over  the  Town ; 
the  ufual  Number  of  Burials  within  the  Bills  of  Mortali- 
ty for  a  Week  were  generally  about  340  to  300,  but  from 
the  ayth.  to  the  24  Jan.  the  printed  Bill  was  474.  How- 
ever this  went  aft" again-,  and  the  Froft  continuing  very 

fevere, 


fevere,  till  near  the  End  of  February  the  Bills  decreafed 

;  again  and  People  began  to  look  upon  the  Danger  as  good 

[.  as  over;  but  in  May  the  Bills  greatly  encreafed,  and  the 

I  Weather  becoming'  hot,  the  Infection  fpread  again,  in 

a  dreadful  Manner. 

I  lived,  fays  the  Author,  without  Aldgate,  and  as  the 

f  Oiftemper  had  not  reached  to  that  Side  of  the  City,  our 

I  Neighbourhood  continued  eafy  ;  but  at  the  other  Jtnd  of 

I  the  Town  the  Confternation  was  very  great ;  and  the 

!  Nobility  &  Gentry  thronged  out  of  the   Town,  with 

I  their  Families  in  an  unufual  Manner;  nothing  was  to 

I  be  feen  but  Waggons,  Carts,  and  Coaches,  with  Goods 

and  People  and  Horfe-Men  attending  them,  hurrying 

away ;  then  empty  Waggons  and  Carts  appeared,  who 

were  apparently  returning  to  fetch  more  People :  Betides 

innumerable  Numbers  ofPeopleonHorieback,  fitted  ouf 

for  travelling.  This  was  a"  very  melancholly  Profpe&j 

indeed  there  was  nothing  elfe  of  Moment  to  be  feen,  it 

filled  my  mind  with  very  ferious  Thoughts  of  the  Mife- 

rythat  was  corning  upon  the  City,  and  the  unhappy Con- 

aition  of  thofe  that  would  be  left  in  it.     By  the  End  of 

July  the  Contagion  had  fpread  and  encreafed  to  a  great 

Degree  :  Sorrow  and  Sadnefs  fat  upon  every  Face ;  and 

tho'  fome  Parts  were  not  yet  overwhelmed,   all  looked 

deeply  concerned.  LONDON  might  well  be  faidtobe  all 

in  Tears,    theMourners   did  not  go  about  the  Streets, 

for  no  body  made  a  formal  Drefs  of  Mourning  for  their 

r.  ;areft  Relations;  but  the  Voice  of  Mourning,  was  in- 

I  :ed,  heard  in  the  Streets ;   the  Shrieks  of  Women  and 

C  hildren  at  the  Windows  and  Doors  of  their  Hoiife^, 

v,  here  their  deareft  Relations  were  dying,    were  fo  fre- 

^  lent  to  be  heard,  as  we  pafled  the  Streets,  that  it  was 

e  ough  to  pierce  the  ftouteft  Heart  in  the  World.  Tears* 

and  Lamentations  were  feen  almofi:  in  every  Houfe,  efp.e- 

:;a]Iy  in  the  firft  Part  of  the  Vifitation;  for  towards  ths 

I  ter  End  People  did  not   fo  much  concern  themie'ves 

r  the  lofs  of  their  Friends,  expedling,  that  them  (elves 

r  3uM  beiummoned  the  next  Hour. 

It  was  a  Time  of  vary  unhappy  Breaches  amongft 
in  Matters  of  Religion,  DiviiiuttS&feparateOpini- 
)(  »  ©ns 


(  4  ) 
ons  prevailed;  the  Church  of  ENGLAND  was   lately 

reftored,  and  the  Prefbyterians  &  other  Profeffions  had 
fet  up  their  Meetings  foi  worfhip,  and  apart,  in  which 
they  were  frequently  difturbed,  the  Government  endea- 
voring to  fupprefs  their  Meetings.  But  this  dreadful 
Viiitation  reconciled  the  different  Parties  and  took  a- 
way  all  Manner  of  Prejudice  and  Scruple  from  the  Peo- 
ple. But  after  the  Sicknefs  was  over,  that  Spirit  of  Chari- 
ty fubfided,  and  Things  returned  to  their  own  Channel 
again.  Here  we  may  obferve,  that  a  nearer  View  of  Death 
would  foon  reconcile  Men,  of  good  Principles,  to  one 
another,  and  that  it  is  chiefly  owing  to  our  eafy  Situati- 
ons in  Life,  and  our  putting  thefe  Things  far  from  us, 
that  our  Breaches  are  fomented,  and  that  there  is  fo 
much  Prejudice  and  want  of  Chriftian  Charity  and  Union 
amongft  iis.  A  clofe  View  andConverfe  with  Death,  or 
with  Difeafes  that  threaten  Death,  would  fcum  off  the 
Gall  of  our  Temper,  remove  our  Animofities,  and  bring 
us  to  fee  with  different  Eyes.  On  the  other  Side  of  the 
Grave  we  ihall  all  be  Brethren  again. 

The  Inns  of  Court  were  now  all  fhut  up,  there  was 
but  few  Lawyers  to  be  feen  in  the  City,  indeed  there 
was  no  need  of  them,  for  Quarrels  and  Divifions  about 
Intereft  had  ceafed  ;  every  Body  was  at  Peace. 

It  was  alfo  worthy  of  Obfervation,  as  wel^as  fruit- 
fiv  of  Inftruction,  to  obferve  with  what  Alacrity  the 
People,  of  all  Perfuafions,  embraced  the  Opportunities 
they  had  of  attending  upon  the  publick  Worfhip,  and 
other  appointed  Times  of  Devotion,  as  Humiliations, 
Fallings  and  publick  Confeffion  ot  Sins,  to  implore  the 
Mercy  of  GOD  and  avert  the  Judgment  which  hung 
over  their  Heads.  The  Churches  were  fo  thronged 
that  there  was,  often,  no  coming  near,  no,  not  to  the 
very  Door  of  the  largeft  Churches.  There  was  alfo  dai- 
ly Prayers  appointed  Morning  and  Evening,  at  which 
trie  People  attended  with  uncommon  Devotion. 

All  Plays  and  Interludes  which  had  lately  began  to 
encreafe  amongft  us,  were  forbid  to  acl: ;  the  Gaming- 
Tables,  publick  Dancing-Rooms,  and  Mufic-Houfes, 
which  multiplied  and  began  to  debauch  the  Manners  of 

the 


ff  the  People  were  fhut  up  and  fupprefled ;  finding  indeefl 
|  no  Trade,  for  the  Minds  of  the  People  were  generally 
if  humbled  arid  agitated  with  other  Things,  Death  was 
•  before  their  Eyes,  and  every  Body  began  to  think  of 
!  their  Graves. 

The  Infection  ftill  gradually  encreafed  till  the  Middle 

|  of  Auguft,  when  there  died  a  Thoufand  aDay,  by  Ac- 

I  count  of  the  weekly  Bills,  tho'  they  never  gave  a  full 

}  Account  by  many  Thoufands,  many  of  the  Parim  Offi- 

i  cers  were  taken  fick  themfelves  and  died  when  their  Ac- 

j  count  was  to  be  given  in.  The  Parim  of  Stepney  alone  had 

I  within  the  Year,  one  Hundred  &  fixteen  Sextons,  Gra- 

'.  ve-Diggers   and  Carriers  of  the  Dead  &c.   Indeed  the 

Work  was  not  of  a  Nature  to  allow  them  leifure  to  take 

|  an  exadl  tale  of  the  dead  Bodies,  which  were  all  thrown 

together  in  the  Dark  in  a  Pit,  to  which  no  Man  could 

come  near  without  the  utmoft  Peril. 

I  had,  fays  the  Author,  the  Care  of  my  Brother's  Hou~ 
ie  which  obliged  me  fometimes  to  go  abroad.  In  thefe 
Walks  I  had  difmal  Scenes  before  my  Eyes,  as,  parti- 
cularly, ofPerfons  falling  dead  in  the  Streets,  terrible 
Shrieks  of  Women,  who  in  their  Agonies  would  throw 
open  their  Chamber- Windows,  &cry  out  in  a  difmal  fur- 
prizing  Manner  ;  it  is  impoflible,  to  defcribe  the  variety 
of  Poitures  in  which  the  Paffions  of  the  Poor  People 
would  exprefs  themfelves.  Patting  thro'  Token  Houfe 
Yard,  of  a  fudden  a  Cafement  violently  opened  juitover 
my  Head,  and  a  Woman  gave  three  frightful  Screeches, 
and  then  cry'd  :  Oh  !  Death^  Deatb^  Deatb^  which  ftrucfa 
me  with  Horror  and  a  chilnefs  in  my  very  Blood.  There 
was  no  Body  to  be  feen  in  the  whole  Street,  neither 
did  any  Window  open,  for  People  had  no  Curiofity, 
now,  in  any  Cafe.  I  went  on  to  pafs  into  Bell-Aey? 
where  there  was  a  greater  Cry  than  that,  I  could  hear 
Women  and  Children  run  fkreaming  about  the  Rooms 
like  diffracted  ;  when  a  Garret  Window  opened  and  fome 
Body  from  a  Window  on  the  other  Side,  afked  :  What 
is  the  Matter  ?  Upon  which  it  was  anfwered  :  O  Lord! 
tyly  old  Maftcr  has  hanged  himfelf.  The  other  afked  a-* 
gain :  Is  be  quite  dead?  And  the  firft  anfwered :  Ay^  Ay% 


quite  dead  and  cold.  This  rcrfon  was  a  Deputy  Alderman 
and  very  rich  :  But  this  is  but  one  Inftance;  it  is  fcarce 
credible,  what  dreadful  Cafes  happened  in  particular  Fa- 
milies every  Day  :  People  in  the  Rage  of  the  Diftemper 
or  in  the  Torment  of  the  Swelling,  which  was  indeedi 
intolerable,  becoming  raving  and  diftra£ted,  often  times 
laid  violent  Hands  upon  themfelves,  throwing  themfel- 
ves  out  of  Windows,  or  breaking  out  of  the  Houfes,  would 
dance  naked  about  the  Streets  riot  knowing  one  extafie 
from  another  ;  others,  if  not  prevented,  would  run 
directly  down  the  River  &  plunge  into  the  Wa- 
ter. Some  dying  of  meer  Grief  as  a  Paffion, 
and  fome  of  Fright  and  Surprize,  without  having 
received  the  Infection.  It  often  pierced  my  very 
Soul,  to  hear  the  Groans  and  Cries  of  thofe  who 
were  thus  tormented  ;  but  this  of  the  Swellings 
was  accounted  the  moft  promifing  particular  in  the 
whole  Infection,  for  if  thefe  fwellings  could  be  brought 
to  break  and  run,  the  Patient  generally  recovered. 
Whereas  thofe  who  were  ftruck  with  Death  at  the 
Beginning  of  the  Diftemper,  and  had  Spots  come  up- 
on them,  often  went  about  indifferent  eafy,  till  a 
little  before  they  died,  and  fome  till  the  Moment  they 
dropt  down ;  fuch  would  be  taken  fuddenly  very  fick, 
and  would  run  to  fome  convenient  Place,  or  to  their 
own  Houfes,  if  poffible,  and  there  fit  down,  grow  faint 
and  die.  The  Method  the  Magiftrates  fell  into  of 
locking  up  the  Doors  of  People's  Houfes  where  any 
had  taken  the  Diftemper,  and  fetting  Watchmen  there 
Night  and  Day,  to  prevent  any  going  out  to  fpread 
the  Infection,  looked  hard  and  cruel,  as,  perhaps,  thofe 
\vho  were  found  in  the  Family  might  .have  efcapcd, 
if  -hey  had  been  removed  from  the  lick  ;  but  the  pub- 
lick  good  feem'd  to  juftify  fuch  a  Conduct,  and  there 
was  no  obtaining  the  leaft  Mitigation  by  any  Ap- 
plication to  the  Magiftrates.  This  put  People,  who 
thought  themfelves  well,  upon  many  Stratagems  to 
get  out  of  their  Confinements.  Going  out  one  Morn- 
ing, I  heard  a  gr*at  Outcry,  which  prompting  my  Cu- 
ricfity.  I  inquired  the  Caufe  of  a  Perfon  who  looked 

out 


•ut  of  a  Window.  A  Watchman  had  been  employM 
to  watch  at  the  Door  of  a  Houfe,  which  was  infected 
and  ihut  up,  both  himfelf  and  the  Day  Watchman  at- 

fided  there  a  Day  and  two  Nights.  All  this  ^ while 
Noife  had  been  heared,  nor  Lights  feen  in  the 
>ufe;  neither  had  they  called  for  any  Thing  ;  it 
feems  that  two  or  three  Days  before,  the  Dead-Cart 
had  ftop't  there,  and  a  Servant-Maid  had  been  brought 
down  to  the  Door  de|||^ wrapt  only  in  a  green  Rug, 
which  the  Buriers  had  put  into  the  Cart  and  carried 
away :  The  next  Day*!he  Watchman  heared  great 
Crying  and  fcreeming  in  the  Houfe,  which  he  fuppo- 
fed  was  occafioned  by  fome  of  the  Family  dying  juft 
at  that  Time  ;  upon  which  he  knocked  at  the  Door 
a  great  while,  at  laft  one  looked  out,  and  faid  with 
an  angry  quick  Tone,  and  a  Voice  of  one  that  was 
crying,  what  d'ye  want,  that  ye  make  fuck  a  knocking  ?  He 
anfwered:  I  am  the  Watchman:  How  do  you  do?  IVhatls 
the  Matter?  The  Perfon  anfwered  :  What  is  that  in 
you  ?  Stop  the  Dead-Cart,  This  was  about  one  oj  Clock  ; 
foon  after,  he  ftopt  the  Dead-Cart,  and  then  knock'd 
again,  but  no  Body  anfwered  ;  He  continued  knocking, 
and  the  Bellman  called  feveral  Times  :  Brwg  out  your 
Dead ;  but  no  Body  anfwered,  till  the  Man  that  drove 
the  Cart,  being  called  to  other  Houfes,  would  ftay  no 
longer,  and  djove  away.  In  the  Morning  when  the 
Day- Watchman  came  in,  they  knock' t  at  the  Door  a 

freat  while,   but   no   Body   anfwering,    they    got    a 
adder,  and  one  of  them  went  up  te  the  Window,  & 
looking  into  the  Room,  he  fa  w  a  Woman  lying  dead  upon 
the  Floor,  in  a  difmal  Manner  ;  But  tho'  he  called  aloud  & 
knocked  hard  on  the  Floor,  with  his  Staff,  no  Body  ftirr'd 
or  anfwered  :  This  they  made  known  to  the  Magistrate, 
'who  ordered  the  Houfe  to  be  broken  open,  when  no 
Body  was  found  in  the  Houfe,  but  that  young  Wo- 
man, who  having  been  infected,  and  paft   Recovery, 
the  Reft  had  left  her  to  die  by  herfelf,  and  were  every 
one  gone,  having   found    fome    Way   to     delude    the 
Watchman,  and  go  out ;  as  to  thofe  Cries,  and  Shrieks, 
which  he  heared,  it  was  fuppofed,  they  werethepaflion- 
)(  4  ««• 


ate  Cries  of  the  Family,  at  the  bitter  parting,  which,  to 
be  fure,  it  was  to  them  all;  this  being  the  Sifter  to  the 
Miftrifs  of  theFamily.  Many  more  Inftaraces  might  be  giv- 
en butthefemay  fuffice  to  fhew  the  deep  Diftrefs  of  that* 
Day.  Death  did  not  now  hover  over  every  one'sHead  only, 
but  looked  into  their  Houfes  and  Chambers,  and  even 
flared  in  their  very  Faces,  and  tho'  there  was  fome 
Stupidity  and  Dulnefs  of  Min^  yet  there  was  a  great 
Deal  of  juft  Alarm  founded  ijHpe  inmoft  Soul :  Many 
Confciences  were  awakened  ^piny  hard  Hearts  melt- 
ed into  Tears  ;  many  a  penitent  Confeflion  was  made 
of  Crimes  long  concealed.  People  might  be  beared 
even  in  the  Streets  as  we  patted  along  calling  upon 
GOD  for  Mercy,  thro*  JESUS  CHRIST,  and  faying  : 
I  have  been  a  Thief.  I  have  been  an  Adulterer.  I  have 
been  a  Murderer,  and  the  like  ;  and  none  durft  flop  to 
make  Inquiry  into  fuch  Things,  or  to  adminifter. 
Comfort  to  the  poor  Creature,  who  in  the  anguifh 
both  of  Soul  and  Body  thus  cried  out :  Many  were  the 
Warnings  that  were  then  given  by  dying  Penitents, 
to  others,  not  to  put  off  and  delay  their  Repentance 
to  a  Day  of  Diftrefs,  that  fuch  a  Time  of  Calamity 
as  this  was  no  Time  for  Repentance.  I  wifh,  fays  the 
Author,  I  could  repeat  the  very  Sound  of  thofe  Groans 
and  Exclamations  that  I  heared  from  fome  poor  dying 
Creatures,  when  in  the  heighth  of  their  Agonies  and 
Diftrefs ;  and  that  I  could  make  him  that  reads  this 
hear  as,  I  imagine,  I  now  hear  them,  for  the  Sound 
feems  ftill  to  ring  in  my  Ears.  In  the  Beginning 
of  September  the  Number  of  Burials  increafmg,  the 
Church- Wardens  of  Aldgate  Parifh  ordered  a  large  Pit 
to  be  dug,  to  hold  all  the  Dead  which  might  die  in  a 
Month,  it  was  about  forty  Foot  long  and  fixteen broad  ; 
fome  blamed  the  Church- Wardens  for  fufFering  fuch 
a  frightful  Gulf  to  be  dug;  neverthelefs  in  two  Weeks 
they  had  thrown  more  than  elevenHundred  Bodies  into 
it,  when  they  were  obliged  to  fill  it  up,  as  the  Bodies 
were  come  within  6  Foot  of  the  Surface.  My  Curiofi- 
ty  drove  me  to  go,  &  fee  this  Pit,  when  there  had  been 
near  four  hundred  People  buried  in  it.  I  got  Admit- 
tance 


.   (  9  ) 

tance  into  the  Church  -Yard,  by  means  of  the  Sexton,wh* 
was  a  fcnfible,  religious  Man ;  he  would  have  perfuad- 
cd  me  not  to  go,  faying :    "   That  it  itw,  indeed^  their 
f>uty  to  venture^  and  in  it  they  might  hope  to  be  preferved ; 
jput  that  as  I  had  no  apparent  call-,  he  thought  ??iy  Gurlofi- 
ty  could  not  juftify  my  running  that  Hazard  „  I  told  him, 
1  had  been  prejfed  in  my  Mind  to  go,  and  that  perhaps  it 
might  be  an  Inftrufting  Sight  "Nay   "  Says    "  the.    good 
I  Man   "  If  you  will  -vcn*  '~e  upon  that  Score,  in  the  Name 
of  GOD  go  in ;  it  wilt  be  a  Sermon  to  you,  it  may  be  the 
oeft  that  ever  you  heared  in  your  Life ,,    His  Difcourfes 
had  (hock't  my  Refolution  and  1  flood  wavering  for  a 
good  while ;  but  juft  then  Sheared  the  Bell-Man,  and 
the  Cart,  loaded  with  dead  Bodies,   appearing,  I  went 
in.     There  was  no  Body,  as  I  could  perceive,  at  firft, 
with  the  Cart  but  the  Buriers,  and  the  Man  that  led 
the  Cart,  but  when  they  came  to  the    Pit,    they  faw 
i  a  Man  rmifled  in  a  Cloak  who  appeared  in  great  agony ; 
;  the  Buriers  immediately  gathered  about  him,  Tuppofing 
'  he  was  one  of  thofe  poor  delirious    or   defperate  Crea- 
i  tures,  that  would  fometimes    run  to   the  Pit,  wrapt  in 
i  Blankets,  and  throw  themfelves   in,  and  as  they  faid, 
!  bury  themfelves.     When  the  Buriers  came  to  him,  they 
I  foon  found  he  was  neither  defperate  nor  diftempered  in 
Mind,  but  one   opprefTed  with  a  dreadful   Weight   of 
Grief,  having  his  Wife  and  feveral  Children  all  in  the 
Cart,  that  was  juft  come  in  with  him,  and  he  followed 
in  Agony  and  excels  of  Sorrow.      He    calmly  deilred 
the  Buriers  to  let  him  alone,  faid  he  would  only  fee  the 
Bodies  thrown  in  &  go  away,  fo  they  left  importuning 
him ;  but  no  fooner  was  the  Cart    turned  round,   and 
the  Bodies  fhot  into  the  Pit  promifcuoufly,  which  was 
a  Surprize  to  him,  for  he  at  leaft  expe&ed,  they  would 
have  been  decently  laid  in*  tho'  indeed  he    was  after- 
wards convinced  that  was  impracticable,  I  fay,  no  foon- 
er did  he  fee  the  Sight,  but  he  cry'd  out  aloud,  unable 
to  contain  himfelf,  and  fell  down  in   a    Swoon  ;   the 
Buriers  ran  to  him,    and   took  him  up,  and  when  he 
was  •  come  to  himfelf,  led  him  to  a  Place  were  he  was 
taken  Care  of.     He  looked  into  the  Pit  again,  as  he 

went 


(  io  5 

went  away,  but  the  Buriers  nad  covered  the  Bodies, 
fo  immediately,  with  throwing  Earth  that  nothing 
could  be  feen.  The  Cart  had  in  it  fixteen  or  feventeen 
Bodies.  Some  were  wrapt  up  in  Linen  Sheets,  fom^y 
in  Rugs,  fome  little  other  than  naked,  or  fo  loofe,  thai 
what  Covering  they  had  fell  from  them,  in  the  {hoot- 
ing out  of  the  Cart,  and  they  fell  quite  naked  among 
the  reft  \  but  the  Matter  was  not  much  to  them,  or  the 
Indecency  much  to  any  one  elfe,  feeing  they  were  to  be 
huddled  together  into  the  common  Grave  of  Mankind, 
for  here  was  no  Difference  made, 'but  Poor  and  Rich 
went  together  ;  there  was  no  other1  Way  of  Burials,  nei- 
ther was  it  poffible  there  fhould. 

John  Hayward  under-Sexton,  that  is  Grave-Digger 
Bearer  of  the  Dead,  never  had  the  Diftemper  at 
all,  but  lived  about  twenty  Years  after  it.  His  Wife 
was  imployed  to  hurfe  the  infected  People ;  yet  fhe 
herfelf  never  was  infected.  The  only  Prefervative  he 
ufed,  againft  the  Infection,  was  holding  Garlick  and 
Rue  in  his  Mouth  and  fmoaking  Tobacco ;  this  I  had 
from  his  own  Mouth.  His  Wife's  Remedy*  was  wa- 
fhing  her  Head  in  Vinegar,  and  fprinkling  her  Head- 
Cloths  fo  with  Vinegar,  as  to  keep  them  always  moift; 
and  if  the  Smell  of  any  of  thole  fhe  waited  on  was  more 
than  ordinary  offenfive,fhe  fnuftVinegar  up  into  herNofe, 
fprinkled  her  Headcloths  and  held  a  Handkerchief  wet- 
ed  with  Vinegar  to  her  Mouth. 

And  here  I  murl  not  omit  mentioning  the  Difpo- 
fition  of  the  People  of  that  Day,  with  Refpect  to  their 
Chanty  to  the  Poor,  which  indeed  was  very  large  both 
in  a  publick  and  a  private  Way.  Some  pious  Ladies 
were  fo  zealous  in  this  good  Work,  and  fo  confident 
in  the  Protection  of  Providence  in  the  Difcharge  of  this 
great  Duty,  that  they  went  about  themfelves  diftribut- 
ing  Alms,  and  vifiting  the  poor  Families  that  were  in- 
fected, in  their  very  Houfes,  appointing  Nurfes  and 
Apothecaries  to  fupply  them  with  what  they  wanted. 
Thus  giving  their  Bleflings  to  the  Poor  in  fubftantial 
Relief,  as  well  as  hearty  Prayers  for  them.  I  will?aiot 
undertake  to  fay,  that  none  of  thefe  charitable  People 

were 


j  were  fuffered  to  die  of  the  Plague,  but  this  I  may  fay, 
I  that  I  never  knew  any  of  them  mifcarried,  which  I 
[  mention  for  the  Encouragement  of  others  in  Cafe  of  like 
^Diitrefs ;  and  doiibtlefs,  if  they,  tc  that  give  to  the  Poor^  lend 
B?  the  Lord)  and  he  will  repay  //„  thofe  that  hazard  their 
[jLives  to  give  to  the  Poor,  and  to  comfort  and  allift 
!  them  in  fuch  a  Miiery  as  this,  may  hope  to  be  pro- 
:  te&ed  therein. 

From  the  Middle  of  Auguft  to  the  Middle  of  Sep- 
tember the  Infection  frill  encreafed  and  fpread  itfelf, 
with  an  irrefiftible  Fury,  it  was  reckoned  that  during 
that  Time  there  died  no  lefs  than  fixteen  Hundred  a 
Day,  one  Day  with  another.  It  was  then  that  the 
Confufion  and  Terror  was  inexpreffible  ;  the  Courage 
of  the  People  appointed  to  carry  away  the  Dead,  be- 
.  gan  to  fail  them  :  The  Vigilance  of  the  Magifrrates 
was  now  put  to  the  utmoft  Trial.  At  lait  the 
violence  of  the  Diflemper  came  to  fuch  a  height  that  the 
People  fat  ftill  looking  at  one  another,  and  feemed  quite 
abandoned  to  Defpair.  In  a  Word,  People  began  to 
give  themfelves  up  to  a  fear,  that  there  was  nothing 
to  be  expected,  but  a  universal  Defolation.  This  De- 
fpair made  People  bold  and  venturous,  they  were  no 
more  my  of  one  another,  as  expecting  there  was  now 
-no  avoiding  the  Diftemper,  but  that  all  muft  go,  this 
brought  them  to  crow'd  into  the  Churches,  they  inqui- 
red no  more  what  Condition  the  People,  who  fat  near 
them,  was  in,  but  looking  upon  themfelves  all  as  fo 
many  dead  Corps,  they  came  to  the  Churches  without 
the  leaft  Caution,  and  crowded  together,  as  if  their 
Lives  were  of  no  Confequence,  compared  to  the  Work 
which  they  were  come  about :  Indeed,  their  Zeal  in 
coming,  and  the  Earneftnefs1  and  affectionate  Atten- 
tion they  mewed  to  what  they  heared,  made  it  mani- 
feft,  what  Value  People  would  put  upon  the  Wor- 
fhip  of  GOD,  if  they  thought,  every  Day  they  attended 
at  the  Church,  would  be  their  laft.  It  was  in  the  Height 
,  of  this  Defpair,  that  it  pleafed  God  to  ftay  his  Hand, 
anckto  flacken  the  Fury  of  the  Contagion,  in  a  Manner 
as  lurprizing  as  that  of  its  Beginning,  and  which  de- 

monitrated 


(    12    ) 

monftrated  it  to  be  his  own  particular  Hand  above 
the  Agency  of  Means;  nothing  but  omnipotent  Power 
could  hav£  done  it ;  the  Contagion  defpifed  all  Medi- 
cine. Death  raged  in  every  Corner,  and  had  it  gona 
on  as  it  did  then,  a  few  Weeks  more  would  have  clear eq 
the  Town  of  all  its  Inhabitants.  In  that  very  Moment 
when  thirty  Thoufand  were  dead  in  three  Weeks,  nay, 
when  it  was  reported  three  Thoufand  had  died  in  one 
Night,  and  an  Hundred  Thoufand  more  were  taken  fick, 
when  we  might  well  fay  .*  Vain  was  the  Help  of  Man^ 
it  pleafed  God  to  caufe  the  Fury  of  it  to  abate ;  and 
by  his  immediate  Hand  to  difarm  the  Enemy.  Itwas 
wonderful !  The  Phyficians  were  furprized,  wherever 
they  vifiled,  to  find  their  Patients  better,  and  in  a  few 
Days  every  Body  was  recovering :  Nor  was  this  by 
any  Medicine  found  out,  or  any  new  Method  of  Cure 
discovered,  but  it  was  evidently  from  the  Secret  invi- 
fible  Hand  of  him,  that  had  at  firft  fent  this  Difeafe, 
as  a  Judgment  upon  us.  Let  the  Philofophers  fearch 
for  Reafons  in  Nature  to  Account  for  it,  and  labour 
as  much  as  they  will  to  lefTen  the  Debt  they  owe  to 
their  Maker  ;  thofe  Phyficians  who  had  the  leaft  Share 
of  Religion  in  them  were  obliged  to  acknowledge  that 
it  was  all  fupernatural.  The  Streets  were  now  full 
of  poor  recovering  Creatures,  who  appeared  very  fenfible 
&  thankful  to  God  for  their  unexpected  Deliverance :  Yet 
I  muft  own,  that  as  for  the  generality  of  thePeople  it  might 
too  juftly  be  faid  of  them,  as  was  faid  of  the  Children  of 
IJrael,  after  they  had  been  delivered  from  the  Hoft  of 
Pharaoh.  "  That  they  fung  his  Praife^  but  they  foon  for- 
got his  Works. ,, 

The  Author  who  was  preferved  unhurt,  with  his 
whole  Family  during  the  Time  of  the  Sicknefs,  gives, 
in  his  Memoirs,  a  particular  Account  of  the  many 
Reaforiings  and  Fears  which  afFe&ed  his  Mind,  before 
he  could  come  to  a  fixed  Conclufion,  whether  to  ftay, 
and  take  his  Lot  in  the  Station  in  which  God  had 
placed  him,  or  by  leaving  the  City  run  the  Hazard  of 
unfettling  himfelf,  and  lofe  his  Effects,  which  lay  fcat- 
fcered  amongft  the  Merchants.  At  the  earneft  Solici- 
tations 


(  IJ  ) 

tations  of  his  Brother  he  had  concluded  to  go,  but 
being  always  crofted  in  this  Defign,  by  feveral  Acci- 
dents, it  came,  one  Morning,  as  he  expreiies  it,  very 
warmly  in  his  Mind,  whether thefe repeated  Difappoint- 
inents,  were  not  Intimations  to  him,  that  it  was  the 
Will  of  Heaven  he  fhould  not  go,  which  was  fucceed- 
ed  by  a  farther  Thought,  that  if  this  Suggefiion  was 
from  God,  he  was  able  effectually  to  preferve  him 
in  the  midft  of  all  Deaths  and  Dangers  that  would  fur- 
round  him,  and  that  if  he  attempted  to  fecure  him- 
'felf,  by  fleeing  from  his  Habitation  and  a&ed  con- 
trary to  thefe  Intimations,  which  he  believed  to 
be  divine,  it  was  a  kind  of  flying  from  GOD,  who 
could  caufe  his  Juftice  to  overtake  him,  when,  and 
where  he  thought  fit. 

But  what  finally  fixed  him  in  a  Refolution  to  ftay, 
and  caft  himfelf,  entirely  upon  the  Proteclon  and  good 
Pleafure  of  the  Almighty,  was,  that  at  a  Time,  when 
his  Thoughts  were  more  than  commonly  ferious  up- 
on this  weighty  Subject,  turning  over  the  Bible  which 
lay  before  him,  he  cry'd  out  :  Well^  I  knoiu  not  what 
to  do^  Lord^  direft  me  !  at  that  Juncture  happening  to 
ftop  and  calling  his  Eye  on  the  Second  Verfe  of  gift. 
Pfalm,  he  read  to  the  loth,  as  follows  viz.  "  /  will 


fay  of  the  Lord,  Pie  is  my  Refuge,  and  my    Fortrefs,   my 
4  GUD,  in  him  will  I  truft.     Surely  he  Jhall  deliver  thee 

*  from  the  Snare  of  the  Fowler ',  and  from  the  noifom    Pejii- 
4  lence.     He  Jhall  cover  thee  with  his  Feather \f,    and  under 
4  his  Wings  Jbalt  thou  trujl :  His  Truth  Jhall  be  thy  Shield 
4  and  Buckler.     Thou  jhalt  not  be  afraid  for  the    Terror   by 
4  Nighty  nor  for  the  SJrrow  that  flieth  by  Day:  Nor  far  the 
4  Pestilence  that  walketh  in  Darknefs:  Nor  for  the  Deftruc- 
4  tion  that  wajleth  at  Noon-Day.     A  Thoufand  Jhall  fall 
4  at  thy  Side,  and  ten  Thoufana  at  thy  right  Hand:  But 
4  it  fnall  not  come  nigh  thee.     Only  ivith   thine  Eyes  Jhalt 
4  thou  behold  and  fee  the  Reward  of  the  Wicked.     Becattfe 
4  thou  haft  made  the  Lord  which  is  thy  Refuge,    even,  the 
4  Mojl-High  thy  Habitation  :  There  Jhall  no  evil  befal  theey 

*  neither  jhall  any  Plague,  tome  nigh  thy  Dwelling  &c.  „ 

The 


(   14  ) 

T^He  Tnfpiration  of  God,  and  the  clear  Information  of  the  Holy 
•*•  Scriptures  azures  us,  that  God  referves  his  choiceft  Secrets 
for  the  pureft  Minds,  and  that  it  is  unclcannefs  of  Spirit,  not  dif- 
ference of  Method  in  feekiiig  after  God,  that  feparates  us  from 
him  ;  true  Holinefs  being  the  only  fafe  Entrance  into  divine  Know-< 
ledge.  The  Apoi'rle  Peter  declares  Act..  10,  34.  That  be  perceived  of 
a  Truth  that  God  is  no  refpetter  of  Per  fans :  But  in  every  Nation,  he  that 
feareth  him,  and  worketh  Right  eonjiiefs  is  accepted  with  him.  And  the 
Apoftle  Paul  alfo  tells  the  Galatians  Chap.  6,  !•?.  That  in  Chrift  Jefits 
neither  Circumcijion  availeth  any  Thing,  nor  Uncircwncifion,  hut  a  new 
Creature.  Nothwithftanding  the  Clearnefs  of  thefe  and  many  more 
fuch  Dodrines  contained  in  the  Scriptures,  Selfifimels  &  I'artia- 
litv,  thofc  inhuman  and  bafe  Qualities  have  been  fuffered  to  pre- 
vail even  amongft  fuch,  as  are  efteemed  the  moft  pious  in  thefe- 
veral  Sects  ^and  Parties  of  the  Chriftian  Church :  They  have  raifed 
and  (till  raife  in  every  Communion,  afclfiih  partial  Orthodoxy, 
which  confifts  in  courageously  defending  fall  its  Opinions  and 
Practice?,  and  condemning  the  Dqftrines and  Practices  of  others; 
and  thus  every  one  is  train'd  up  in  Defence  of  their  own  Church, 
their  own  Truth,  their  own  Opinion:  And  he  often  .is  judged 
to  have  the  moft  Merit,  and  the  moil  Honour,  who  likes  every 
Thinq,  and  defends  every  Thing  amon«ft  themfelves,  and  leaves 
nothing  uncenfured  in  thofe  that  arepf  a  different  Communion. 
Now  how  can  Truth,  Goodncfs  and  Religion  be  more  (truck  at, 
than  by  fuch  Defenders  of  it  8  If  you  aik  why  the  great  Biihop 
of  Mea'ux  wrote  fo  many  learned  Bocks  againit  all  Parts  of  the 
Reformation,  it  is  becaufe  he  was  born  in  j?%mce.  Had  he  been 
born  in  England,  had  he  been  bred  at  Oxfordy  he  might  have  re- 
vall'd  our  great  Biftop  Stillingfleet,  and  would  have  wrote  as  many 
"learnM  Folio's  againit  the  Church  of  Rfnie,  ^s  he  has  done.  And 
yet  I  will  venture  to  fay,  that  if  each  Church  could  produce 
but  one  Man  a  Piece,  that  had  the  Piety  of  an  Apoftle,  and  the 
impartial  Love  of  that  firft  Chriftians,  they  would  not  want  half 
a  Sheet  of  Paper  to  hold  their  Articles  of  Union,  nor  be  half  an 
Hour  before  they  were  of  one  Religion.  If  we  loved  Truth  as 
fuch;  if  we  fought  it  for  its  own  fake;  if  we  loved  our  neigh- 
bours as  our  felvesj  if  we  defir'd  nothing  by  our  Religion  but 
to  be  acceptable  to  God ;  if  we  equally  defir'd  the  Salvation  of 
all  Men ;  if  we  were  afraid  of  Error,  only  becaufe  of  its  hurt- 
ful Nature  to  us,  and  our  Brethern  of  other  Communions,  then 
nothing  of  this  Spirit  could  have  any  Place  in  us.  For  God  is  Love, 
end  they  'which  dwell  in  God,  they  dwell  in  Love,  i  John.  4, 16.  That 
univerfal  Love  \\hich  gives  the  whole  Strength  of  the  Heart  to 
God,  and  which  makes  us  love  every  Man  as  we  love  ourfeJves 
is  the  nobleft,  the  moft  divine,  and  God-like  State  of  the  Soul> 
and  no  Religion  does  any  Man  any  good,  but  fo  far,  as  it  brings 
this  perfect  Love  with  it.  Perfection  can  no  whurc  be  found,  but 
in  a  pure  difmterefted  Love  of  God  and  our  Neighbour 


V 


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